Ex-Communication Would Not Worry NM Senate Leader

On Thursday night, June 18th, Bernalillo County democrats heard Senator Michael Sanchez (D-Valencia) tell them who his heroes are, and why he's exploring a run for governor in 2010.

What they may not have expected to hear is a story he told them about attending church in his hometown of Belen.

Sanchez told the crowd that a priest in his parish doesn't "much care for me." Sanchez believes it's because of his support for a woman's right to choose and domestic partnership measures.

In front of his wife and daughter, who attended the meeting at UNM Law School with him, Sanchez told about 50 people he doesn't care if he's ex-communicated from the church for his public policy stands.

Sanchez told the story in response to a question about the Catholic Church's influence defeating a domestic partnership bill in the state senate. Note: We did not have the camera rolling at the time he made his statement about ex-communication.



In this video Sanchez remembers his heroes, John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and baseball heroes Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente. He say's they taught him to work hard and care for other people.

At 5:48 minutes into the video, Sanchez talks about his disappointment Senate Bill 12's defeat.


Sanchez announced he would be forming an exploratory committee to run for governor on his Facebook page in May, but has not updated his wall since then.

Lt. Governor Diane Denish, who was on vacation last week, was represented by her daughter, Susan Schreiber, who talked about her mother's record for the last eight years.

Three candidates for lieutenant governor, Senators Gerald Ortiz y Pino & Linda Lopez, along with Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano (who is currently the only one of the three candidates with a campaign blog, Twitter account and Facebook page), each had five minutes to address the crowd.

Incumbent Bernalillo County Assessor Karen Montoya, and Bernalillo County Sheriff candidate Sylvester Stanley, an army vet and FBI National Academy graduate, with 30 years of law enforcement experience, also spoke at the meeting.

Senate Rules Chair Defends Incremental Ethic Reforms.

Senate Rules Chair Linda Lopez (D-ABQ) says ethics reform "won't happen overnight" in New Mexico.

Lopez, who announced, in April, that she's running for Lieutenant Governor, made the remarks Thursday evening at a Bernalillo County Democratic Party meeting at UNM Law School.



About 50 people attended the meeting and listened to several 2010 candidates, including two of Lopez' announced opponents, Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano and Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, who is exploring a run against current Lt. Governor Diane Denise, for Governor in 2010, also spoke the the crowd. Denish, who's on vacation, sent her daughter, Sara Schreiber, to speak for her.

During the meeting, Diogenes' Six blogger Ched MacQuigg asked each candidate about their plans to "end the culture of corruption in state government." Read the interesting responses he got on his morning blog post.

Governor Wants Consensus On Domestic Partnership Bill

Governor Bill Richardson says he won't put a domestic partnership measure on his special session call unless there is consensus between the Catholic Church and gay activists.

Listen to the governor's comments here:



This morning, Trip Jennings, at the New Mexico Independent, reported the governor wants to make sure there is a clear definition of domestic partnerships before moving forward.

We still don't understand why the Catholic Church needs to be consulted in a legal matter. But they have been flexing their muscle on this issue.

America's constitution is fairly clear on two points here.

First, there is a separation of church and state. Second, there should be no discrimination against any class of people, especially in 2009. Clearly the state does not recognize "church" weddings. Heterosexual couples must get a marriage license.

For extended coverage on the civil rights for the GLBT community read Barbara Wold's blog Democracy for New Mexico here. But, first listen to comments from Senate Majority leader Michael Sanchez.

He told us this morning that he doesn't believe any domestic partnership bills will be included in a "likely" special session this year, but he's optimistic that it can be passed next year, despite a resounding defeat this year.

Sen. Sanchez also told us he'd consider carrying the measure forward.



The majority, leader also told us webcasting on NM Senate proceedings is fine, "its got its time and its place." He predicts viewers will have a better [camera] angle next year where only one camera was placed at the back of the chamber.

In the audio above, Sen. Sanchez also told us if he decides to run for state office (he has told us before today that he has an interest in challenging Lt. Governor Diane Denish for the governor's job in 2010)he'll consider honoring political contribution limits before the 2011 start date.

We asked Sen. Sanchez if there needs to more ethics reform and transparency in the legislature before health care reform can be passed.

"We took some steps to make people understand that we are opening up our conference committee. There is more transparency. The campaign contribution limit is there, and I think it's good."

Sanchez also says it took him a few days after the grueling 60-day session to rejuvenate, but he's back on the job practicing law in Belen and Los Lunas.

Photo Credit: MG Bralley

Sanchez Plans to Reintroduce Bill to Expunge Criminal Records.

Democrat Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez isn't giving up. Earlier today, Sanchez told us next January, during the short session he'll reintroduce legislation that would expunge some criminal records.

On Saturday, Governor Bill Richardson vetoed the measure at the urging of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

In this audio he explains it's important to allow people who have been wrongly arrested to have their records erased after a period of time.



Employers argued they need to know the backgrounds of their employees and prospective hires.